Retiring Volunteers Gracefully

1
Retiring Volunteers Gracefully

• Fact or Fiction

2
Formal Volunteering

• Takes place through not for profit organisations
  or projects and is undertaken
• To be of benefit to the community and the
  volunteer
• Of the volunteers own free will and without
  coercion
• For no financial payment and
• In designated volunteer positions

3
Principals of Volunteering

• Volunteering benefits the community and the
  volunteer
• Volunteer work is unpaid
• Volunteering is always a matter of choice
• Volunteering is not compulsorily undertaken to
  receive pensions or government allowances
• Volunteering is a legitimate way in which
  citizens can participate in the activities of
  their community
• Is a vehicle for individuals or groups to address
  human, environmental and social needs
• volunteering respects the rights dignity and
  culture of others
• Volunteering promotes human rights

4
Why Do People Volunteer?

• Basic Level Self-serving drive business/career,
  esteem, feel needed
• Secondary Level Relational drive friendship, to
  belong, esteem, to feel needed to feel like you
  are making a contribution, to relieve loneliness
  and guilt
• Highest Level Belief drive passion for a cause,
  values deeply held beliefs about the importance
  of helping others

5
Volunteering-Connecting the Community
In the community people care for each other and
not just for the community in the abstract, as a
whole, as an institution or as an ideal way of
Life. It is the PEOPLE that matter, just as they
are.------A community reflects the people who
make it up. It has energy founded on hope. Jean
Vanier
6
Volunteers Aging in Place

• Issues and Strategies
• Knowing when intervention is needed and something
  has to change , whether to protect the volunteer
  or the agency
• Making changes while keeping the volunteers
  dignity intact.
• The effect of this situation on other volunteers
  (both new ones and long standing members)
• If / when to involve the volunteers family

7
Volunteer Performance AppraisalTo do or not to do

• Process to provide feedback, recognition and
  reward.
• Process to identify gaps and identify where
  improvements can be made
• Appraisal can be formal for operational level
  volunteers informal - particularly useful where
  coordinator works closely with volunteers
• Volunteer rights and responsibilities Right to
  feedback Responsibility to identify limitations
  and be accountable

8
Code of Practice on Age Discrimination in
Volunteering

• 2003 Volunteering England developed a code of
  practice to challenge rampant age discrimination
• Everyone wishing to volunteer should be able to
  do so regardless of age.
• Disability and fragility may limit opportunities
  for some older people but selection should be
  based on objective criteria relating to tasks and
  performance
• The interests of volunteers and service users
  should be protected by ensuring adequately
  assigned tasks based on capability
• Where insurance cover for volunteers cannot be
  obtained due to age restrictions volunteers
  should be informed

9
How to Fire A Volunteer and Live to Tell About It

• 82 rated this a the most difficult aspect of
  their role
• 60 report delaying dealing with the issue
• Firing a volunteer is an admission that volunteer
  management has failed
• Re-assign, re-train, re-vitalized, refer, retire

10
The Firing Meeting

• This can never be pleasant
• Be quick, direct, and absolute
• Announce, dont argue
• Dont attempt to counsel
• Follow up

11
Dementia

• Influence
• Persuade
• Last resort family